Working Theory Podcast

Well, that’s that! Thank you all for tuning in to Working Theory over the last few months. I’ve had so much fun using this podcast as a way to slow down and unpack the “tiny” yet very revealing shifts happening in culture. While I’ll be taking an indefinite break from hosting the pod, don’t worry—the “working theory” hat is very much staying on. To close things out, I’m sharing a collection of “lo...

I went into this World Cup as someone who honestly doesn’t care much for soccer. But over the course of 39 days, it became impossible for me not to get pulled in. I went to watch four matches, discussed the games with friends and coworkers, texted my dad about them from across the world, and began paying attention to everything happening around the sport. This episode explores what stood out to me...

Gap was once one of America’s most iconic brands, but by the 2010s it had become synonymous with endless sales and uninspiring basics. So how did it become cool again in 2026? In this episode, I trace Gap’s comeback under CEO Richard Dickson and examine how the brand rebuilt its cultural relevance through a strategy it calls “fashiontainment.” Under this new approach, Gap is positioning itself as...

Going out used to be a rite of passage. Now, more and more young people would rather stay home, wake up early for Pilates, or host a dinner party than spend the night at a club. In this episode, I explore why Gen Z has become such an “inside generation.” There are several potential culprits: wellness culture, the sober curious movement, dating burnout/voluntary celibacy, $20 cocktails (diabolical....

Love Island USA Season 8 has officially ended, and after finally becoming a devoted watcher this summer, I’m breaking down what the show reveals about our culture more broadly. From KC and Corbin’s red-pill-adjacent language to the homosocial bonds that prioritize other men’s approval over the emotional needs of the women they’re coupled with, Love Island is a microcosm of today’s gender dynamics...

Everyone seems to own an Oura Ring these days, and that’s only one part of the equation. From Apple Watches and Whoop bands to emerging hormone trackers, wearable devices are becoming an everyday part of how we understand our bodies. In this episode, I explore why wearable health has taken off and what it reveals about broader cultural shifts in wellness. As people become more health-literate, we’...

When was the last time you read an article from start to finish? Or listened to an entire podcast episode? Instead of consuming long-form content, we are increasingly gravitating toward short clips extracted from longer pieces—and, in many cases, abandoning those longer works altogether. Known as the “clip economy,” I explore how the dominance of short-form video is transforming the media industry...

Usually, by June 1st, my feed is already flooded with corporate rainbow logos and Pride collections (they’re never very cute, sorry to say). That isn’t quite the case this year. At a moment when queer and trans rights are increasingly under attack, corporate support for the LGBTQ+ community has noticeably declined. In this episode, I explore why corporations have pulled back. Perhaps, for better o...

From the Knicks’ championship (go NYC!) to the Monaco Grand Prix and the upcoming World Cup, it feels like everyone—not just lifelong fans—is paying attention to sports. Why? In this episode, I argue that one overlooked reason is the return of the WAG. Once dismissed as tabloid side characters, today’s wives and girlfriends of athletes have become influential figures in their own right. WAGs like...

Weddings are everywhere right now. Dua Lipa and Callum Turner. Ming Xi and Mario Ho. Venus Williams and Andrea Preti. And don’t forget the recent wave of high-profile engagements: Zendaya and Tom Holland, Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. With every new wedding comes endless discussion of the dress, the venue, and the guest list. Increasingly, I’ve noticed that the conve...

I grew up with Euphoria . I watched season one as a high school sophomore experimenting with colorful eye shadow, season two while waiting on college decisions, and season three just a few days after graduating from college. In many ways, the show’s timeline mirrored my own. In this episode, I unpack my complicated feelings about the show’s third season. I explore what feels like a growing misogyn...

Celebrity brands are everywhere right now. Every week, there’s a new skincare line, makeup launch, wellness drink, or fashion collaboration attached to a famous face. But while some brands like Rhode, Rare Beauty, and Fenty Beauty become genuinely culture-shifting companies, most celebrity brands disappear soon after they launch. In this episode, I explore what actually makes celebrity brands work...

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Everlane was being acquired by Shein for $100 million. Everlane is built on the promises of “radical transparency” and sustainability; Shein, on the other hand, is the epitome of fast fashion. The Everlane-to-Shein pipeline exposes the limits of ethical consumption under capitalism. It highlights the contradictions inherent to sustainable fashion: true sust...

As I’m about to graduate, I’ve been reflecting on my senior thesis on neo-Chinese fashion—a style that blends traditional Chinese design with modern, everyday wear. Think: the viral adidas Chinese New Year jackets, qipaos modified for comfort, and shirts with pankou buttons. In this episode, I ask a simple question: why is it becoming so popular right now? I break down how neo-Chinese fashion is t...

I love the Met Gala. It’s fashion’s biggest night and a celebration of creativity and cultural expression. But this year, despite a few standout looks (thank you, Emma!), the night felt strangely underwhelming. In this episode, I unpack why. With Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos being the event’s leading sponsors, the Met is no longer just about fashion. From protests outside the Met to the gro...

2026 has become the year of the “analog life.” People are spending less time online and more time offline: deleting TikTok, buying film cameras, picking up physical books, and getting into knitting, pottery, and crafting (hobbies!). On the surface, it makes sense. People want to take back control of their attention and feel more present in a world that’s overstimulating. But at the same time, the...

Coachella is basically the Influencer Olympics. Every year, brands follow the same playbook: host flashy activations, throw money at influencers, and pray that their TikToks will convert to IRL sales. At this point, nothing about it feels particularly new or exciting. But this year, the Biebers did something different with their brands, Rhode Skin and SKYLRK. Enter Bieberchella . Between Justin’s...

NikeSKIMS was one of the most hyped launches of the year. After unveiling its debut collection in September 2025, it saw massive commercial success. This wasn’t a small bet: NikeSKIMS is Nike’s first new sub-brand since launching the Jordan label four decades ago. But a few months later… does NikeSKIMS still work? Right now, sportswear is shifting toward looser, less curated styles. That puts Nike...

Bag charms are everywhere. You’ve seen cute little things dangling off every It Girl’s Balenciaga City Bag; they’re a low-stakes way to express yourself. But what happens when everyone starts doing it? In this episode, I unpack why bag charms took off in the first place and what their rise reveals about a much larger cultural shift. On the surface, they’re playful and personal. But beyond that, th...

It might look like sports viewership is declining… but what if it’s actually just moving to different platforms? In this episode, I unpack how our engagement with sports has fundamentally changed, especially for Gen Z. People are no longer only watching two-hour games on ESPN. Instead, short-form media is reshaping how we experience sports. Alysa Liu took over our feeds during the Winter Olympics....

Hi friends! Welcome to Working Theory. This is a podcast where we unpack what’s happening in culture—across media, internet trends, youth culture, fashion, music, and sports. Each week, we’ll start with something small and build a working theory around what it might reveal about bigger cultural shifts. New episodes every Thursday. Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send t...